Lift mechanism for structural components



y 1969 M.J. SCIME ETAL 3,443,850

LIFT MECHANISM FOR STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS Filed March 27, 1967 Sheet of 4 INVENTORS MARIE J. SCIME' By WILLIAM w. LAUBER A T TOR/VEYS May 13, 1969 M. J. SCIME ETAL Z of 4 Sheet 4 Q@ w. w 2 w. a I m A x e f m .I|. I I II III W n n 7 m 7 i m t 4 II.| i I I I I MARIE J. SCIME' y WILLIAM w. LAUBER y 13, 1969 M.J. SCIME ETAL 3,443,350

LIFT MECHANISM FOR STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS Filed March 27. 1967 sheet 3 of 4 INVENTORS MARIE J. SCIME' By WILLIAM w. LAUBER ATTORNEYS y 3, 1969 M. J. scmiE ETAL 3,443,850

LIFT MECHANISM FOR STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS Filed March 27. 1967 Sheet INVENTORS R 5 PM .J m m a m r A m MW United States Patent 3,443,850 LIFT MECHANISM FOR STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS Marie J. Scim, 77 N. Maple Ave., East Orange, NJ.

07017, and William; W. Lauber, 280 Kent Place Blvd., Summit, NJ. 07901 Filed Mar. 27, 1967, Ser. No. 626,183 Int. Cl. A47b 51/00 US. Cl. 312223 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to a lift mechanism for furniture having a segment capable of being elevated with respect to the main body thereof, wherein the lifting mechanism is comprised of spaced links having a motor driven actuating member disposed between the links for elevating and lowering the said segment.

The present invention in its preferred embodiment relates to the furniture art wherein a telescoping auxiliary frame is normally nested within the major portion of the furniture housing wherein the novel lift mechanism can selectively raise and lower the frame to provide a varying furniture arrangement.

The prior art is aware of many modifications to fumiture wherein lift means are provided in combination with adjustable or extensible components within furniture housings. These prior art elevating means range from simple lever arrangements utilizing crank means for elevating and lowering the same to motor controlled devices utilizing gears, springs, and elaborate lift arms for controlling the movable component.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple motor controlled lift mechanism associated with fumiture wherein the same will be capable of raising and lowering a second frame out of and into a main portion of furniture, which mechanism is comprised of a minimum amount of operating elements.

Another object of the invention is the utilization of a minimal amount of parts in the construction of the lift mechanism to thereby provide a compact unit which does not interfere with the main function of the furniture.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple lift mechanism for elevating the auxiliary frame in a straight line without the utilization of bulky and heavytype guide track members for insuring a controlled straight movement for the auxiliary frame.

Another object of the invention is the provision of lift means which can be easily installed within a portion of the main furniture housing wherein the same will not detract from the overall appearance of the furniture when the auxiliary frame is in its extended position.

The essence therefor of the present invention is the provision of a new simple motor controlled lift means for an elevatable portion of furniture, although it is within the perview of the present disclosure not to so limit its application to furniture alone.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be obvious herefrom or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front view of a cabinet with the elevatable portion thereof in its extended position and showing the lift means in dotted outline extended position;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the cabinet shown in FIGURE 1 showing the lift means and its association with the remaining portion of the cabinet;

FIGURE 3 is a rear view of the cabinet showing the elevatable portion in a retracted position and the association of the lift means with respect thereto;

FIGURE 4 is a view of the lift means per se;

FIGURE 5 is a view taken on line 5-5 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a view taken on the line 66 of FIG- URE 4; and

FIGURE 7 discloses a control circuit for the lift mechanism.

Referring in detail to the drawings and in particular to FIGURE 1, there is shown a cabinet designated generally at 10 having a lift mechanism designated generally at 12 shown in its fully extended position. The furniture is comprised of a lower main body portion 14 which in the preferred embodiment defines a dry sink arrangement 15 and an elevatable top portion 16 defining a hutch which is adapted to be slidably received within the body portion 14 upon the lowering of the power lift mechanism 12 as will be explained hereinafter. The body portion 14 is additionally furnished with towel bars 17 at each end thereof which serve both a decorative and operational function. Provided on one side of the main body 14 is a plurality of stacked drawers 18 'while a cabinet 19 is provided in the remaining side with a row of drawers 20 positioned therabove. The elevatable portion 16 has associated therewith shelves and drawers 21 and 22, respectively. While the arrangement of the furniture shelves and drawers is a preferred embodiment, it is within the scope of the present disclosure to provide a design or arrangement of any variety.

With reference to FIGURE 2, the left mechanism 12 is shown in its elevated position and its relationship With respect to the main body 14 and elevatable portion 16 of the furniture. As is also seen in FIGURE 4, the lift linkage is com-prised of two sets of pairs of spaced substantially parallel disposed lift arms designated generally as 23 and 24. The lift arms 23 are formed by pivotally interconnecting bars, rods or the like 25 to one another as at 26, while the lift arms 24 are formed by pivotally interconnecting bars, rods or the like 27 to one another as at 28. With continuing reference to FIGURES 2 and 4, it will be seen that the lift arms 23 and 24 have their free ends pivotally connected as at 29, 30 to spaced U-shaped brackets 31, 32, respectively. The lower brackets 31, 32 are secured to a centrally disposed floor engaging section 33 of the main portion 14 while the uppermost brackets 31, 32 are secured to the lower portion of the elevatable frame 26. The brackets may be secured to the furniture by adhesives or fasteners.

It will be noted that from FIGURES 2 and 3, the linkage is disposed to the rear of the body portion 14 and is easily accessible from the rear thereof and does not interfere with the normal usage of the furniture.

. Disposed between the pivotal interconnections 26, 28 of the respective lift arms 23, 24 is a reversible high torque electric motor 34 having an electrical lead 35 adapted to be connected to a source of electrical energy, not shown. Extending from the motor 34 is a threaded shaft 36 which is rotatably driven thereby.

As is seen in FIGURE 6, the motor housing is disposed between the lift arms 25 and is supported thereon by the pivots 26, while the threaded shaft 36, as depicted in FIGURE 5, is associated with a bearing 39 extending between and fixedly supported by the spaced arms 27 and the points 28. The bearing 39 is provided with a threaded bore 40 cooperatively receiving the threaded shaft 36. Switch means 41 are provided for selectively controlling the rotational direction of the motor 34 and thereby the shaft 36 which in turn will cause the frame 16 to be extended and retracted.

In operation, and assuming the frame to be in a retracted position as in FIGURE 3, the lift means is collapsed with the bearing 39 positioned at the extreme end of the shaft 36, whereupon by actuation of one of the switch means 41 the motor 34 will be energized and cause the shaft 36 to rotate in a direction to move the bearing 39 inwardly toward the motor. This movement in turn will cause the linkages 23, 24 to move toward one another to raise the frame 16 to the FIGURE 1 position. To lower the frame it is only necessary to reverse the rotation of the motor. If desired stop means 42 may be provided to limit the upward and downward movement of the auxiliary frame 16.

What is claimed is:

1. A lift mechanism to be used in an article of furniture having a base portion and a telescoping auxiliary portion capable of being selectively moved into and out of said base, and including a first means connected to said base portion at one end thereof and to said auxiliary portion to be lifted at its other end, a second means disposed on said first-mentioned means and providing movable points permitting the movement of said first means between a retracted and extended position, an actuating means cooperating with said second means for effecting the movement of said movable points, said first means including a set of spaced pivoted members, said members including at least two links pivoted to one another and also including a second set of spaced pivoted members spaced from said first-mentioned set, and including at least two links pivoted to one another, and connecting members extending between the pivotal portions of said links whereby the same are adapted to pivot in unison, said connecting members including a bearing having a threaded portion disposed between one set of links and a housing between the other set and motor means within the housing driving a threaded shaft extending into said threaded portion.

2. The lift mechanism of claim 1 wherein the base and auxiliary portions are each provided with spaced shelves thereon.

3. The lift mechanism of claim 1 wherein spaced U- shaped brackets are provided on said base portion and on said auxiliary portion and pivotably receive the ends of said first mentioned means.

4. The lift mechanism of claim 1 wherein the motor means is electrical.

5. The lift mechanism of claim 4 wherein switch means are provided on the housing for controlling the motor.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,954,558 4/1934 Conrad 254-126 2,587,094 2/1952 Berg et al. 254126 X 3,245,741 4/1966 Bartlett 312-223 3,310,289 3/1967 Burke 564 X CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 108-147; 312312 

